We started sailing through my daughter. She joined Sea Scouts in 1995 in Titchfield, where they were affiliated to Hill Head Sailing Club. The next season we joined as a family, and Naomi and I completed our RYA level 2 certificate (roughly equivalent to a driving license). To celebrate we bought an old Mirror dinghy for £300.
Naomi and David with the mirror
David and friend Eric in Hill Head Harbour
Naomi progressed quickly, and next season it was Lydia and David's turn to do their RYA course. We bought a Topper for Naomi, and a Laser, with both a full rig and a Radial rig, the latter for me initially, but now the children are more likely to sail it.
David sailing the Topper
David sailing the Topper
Naomi sailing the Laser in front of the clubhouse
Naomi sailing the Laser off Hill Head
Eventually in 1998 we sold the Mirror (for £300) and bought a Wayfarer (£2500).
Matthew and David sailing the Wayfarer
This is used mostly by Lydia and myself, and is our first boat with a spinnaker. At the beginning of 2000 we sold the Topper and bought a Buzz. This is a two man single trapeze open transom boat with an asymmetric spinnaker. It is mostly sailed by Naomi and David, but I have been allowed the odd sail.
Naomi and David sailing the Buzz
More Photographs:
Sue Vine and I sailing the Wayfarer at Hill Head 2003.
Naomi and James sailing the Buzz.
Me sailing the Laser 2003.
When I retired from Shell I bought a yacht, a Dragonfly 920 Extreme, Wandering Glider. She is a trimaran and the picture below show her folded up in her original berth at Emsworth Yacht Harbour. More photos of Wandering Glider can be found here.
Wandering Glider